Why Chemical Castration of Child Sex Offenders Could Be The Solution (Australia)

Home » Why Chemical Castration of Child Sex Offenders Could Be The Solution (Australia)

When we browse the comments on our paedophile offender articles on Facebook, we see the same call to action over and over again – castration. Our readers, like reasonable human beings, want to stop predatory men from abusing children by any means necessary. In this article, we explore the alternatives to incarceration – surgical and chemical castration, quarantining, and the use of the death penalty. Finally answering the question, ‘Is chemical castration of sex offenders the answer?’

Castration has been a topic of contention around the world for many years. Many countries have implemented chemical castration as a form of punishment for convicted paedophiles, or sometimes as a trade-off for a shorter sentence.

The question: is chemical castration the answer? Is it humane to castrate convicted criminals? And above all, will it stop convicted paedophiles from reoffending?

In this article, we shed some light on alternative punishments, with particular emphasis on the act of chemical castration, how it works, and whether it could be a solution to repeat sex offenders in Australia.

What is chemical castration and how does it work?

Chemical castration uses anaphrodisiac drugs to reduce sex drive, compulsive sexual fantasies, and the capacity for sexual arousal in both men and women. It’s important to note, however, that chemical castration does not eliminate sexual impulses altogether, nor does it sterilise the patient.

Chemical castration has replaced traditional surgical castration, where the testes are removed. While chemical castration is a less invasive solution, it is not permanent – treatment lasts for three to five years and once treatment ceases, the chemical castration is no longer effective.

To keep the libido suppressed, treatment must be ongoing… permanently.

The drugs used in chemical castration can cause side-effects including loss of bone density, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and weight gain.

In June 2019, the Governor of Alabama introduced legislation which requires sex offenders convicted of crimes involving children under 13-years-of-age to be castrated before being released on parole. According to the new laws, hormone-blocking drugs must be administered until a judge – not a doctor – deems it no longer necessary.

Republican State Representative, Steve Hurst, was accused of being inhumane for introducing the bill to parliament.

Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan also implement capital punishment to encourage a “zero tolerance to rape” in their countries. However, since reintroducing capital punishment, there have been arguments against it in India.

On the other side of the planet, South Carolina, Florida, Montana, Louisiana and Oklahoma maintain capital punishment for convicted paedophiles.

South Carolina offers capital punishment for the second offence of raping a child under the age of 11. Oklahoma passed “Jessica’s Law” which allows the death penalty for raping a child under the age of 14.

However, communities and social justice groups around the world refuse to believe a violent sex offender can just “change” from counselling. It’s difficult to forgive a person who ignored the law, ignored all sense of reason, and sexually abused an innocent child.

The argument for quarantining paedophiles and other sex offenders

Another argument around punishment for paedophiles is quarantining, much like Coalinga State Hospital in California.

Coalinga is a mental health facility which was built in 2005 to ensure sexually violent predators are kept separate from the community. As of 2019, the facility houses 941 alleged sexual predators, 294 mentally disordered offenders, and 50 mentally ill prisoners.

California law allows violent criminals to be admitted to Coalinga indefinitely during treatment and rehabilitation under Jessica’s Law, a bill which was introduced following the beating and rape of a girl in California by a convicted sex offender.

Jessica’s Law is designed to protect survivors of sexual abuse and reduce a sexual offender’s chances of reoffending. Coalinga was California’s solution to Jessica’s Law, isolating paedophiles and sex offenders from potential victims and providing the opportunity for offenders to be rehabilitated.

Now, the question remains – do we want to fork out millions to have paedophiles and sex offenders quarantined from society? Additionally, do we want paedophiles to be released back into the community after receiving treatment in a place like Coalinga?

There are various punishments for child sex offenders in Australia and around the world… but no consensus on a solution

When it comes to punishing violent sex offenders and sadistic paedophiles, there’s no one consensus worldwide.

While chemical castration is becoming a safer and more humane alternative to surgical castration and capital punishment, there are arguments for and against the castration method, leaving both communities and survivors of child sexual abuse conflicted.

Is there a correct method of dealing with convicted paedophiles? Should sex offenders be castrated, or should prison sentences be more severe, even lasting a lifetime? Should Australian states introduce the death penalty for child sex offenders?

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